Pick up from school

[shoutymcshouty]

Sorry but posting here for traffic.
I would like to do at least one pick up of my dc from school. I am a teacher so have asked if I could have a last period of my day to be free (unpaid) so I can dash off to get my dc. It will be my dc's first year at school and it saddens me to think that I won't be able to do any drop offs or pick ups.
I know I'm lucky in other ways in that I get to spend school holidays with dc.
Aibu to want to pick up? Will it matter for Dc? It is worth it? Is it worth losing out financially ( slightly)? Or just stressful? It's a 30min drive.
Any advice appreciated!

Is this everyday or one day a week.

I teach secondary and it's just me in my subject. I don't think I will be allowed to leave the school early as it will be "unfair". It has to be unpaid.

Could you have PPA which would allow you to go then?
You would obviously then have to do your ppa at home.

Just hoping for one day a week!

I know a lot of people who never get to do drop offs or pick ups. I didn't do any for a long time. It just wasn't an option because of work, except on very rare occasions.

Given that you get holidays with DC, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Your DC won't be the only one.

If I am honest I don't think your dc will care that much, it would only be important if you need to speak to the teacher about anything.

A one hour round trip is a lot, and it would depend if you were able to feasibly do this around your schedule at your school.

You have every school holiday and weekend together so I am not sure I would compromise my job to do this.

Is it the collecting at the school gates you want to do, or spend the rest of the afternoon with DC?
If it's the actual school gates thing then I wouldn't sacrifice any money for that, the novelty will soon wear off!
If it's the spending the rest of the afternoon with DC then it would be nice to do that once a week - would DC be going to after school club every day otherwise?

I don't think there is enough to be gained, you can ask about his day when you get home. He will just be tired and most likely asleep on the way home (and probably not terribly chatty if I remember that stage even if he stays awake, my dc could not remember a thing they did all day!)

On the whole really not worth it, better to save your favours for when you really need them (he is sick, problem at school, meetings, plays etc)

I work compressed hours so I can manage some school pick ups. DD in primary 3 and it's really valuable to me. That snapshot of her coming out the door happy is so reassuring and I have got to know her friends and parents.

So I would say it's worth the unpaid hour. If you can't it's not going to a huge impact. But really nice to do, for you and dc if you can.

I never did school pickup only after school club. DH did the drop off for breakfast club. Hasn’t affected our DC’s. They get use to a routine regardless of what it is.

Hi yes, it will be collecting at the gate but I won't be going back to work after that but will have to do my usual work at home. So I will be able to spend the afternoon from 3pm onwards. I don't really know what to expect, whether dc will feel sad not to be collected by his parents. He will go to after school clubs until 5pm/ 6pm otherwise.
I won't expect anyone to cover for me but I do have a number of ppa time in my week which I have asked for one to be timetabled as last period so not teaching. However, school has said that I will have to be unpaid for that period. That's fine as it's very little impact financially. It just will be a rush!
So as Pp has said, will the novelty wear off? I can change my timetable back if I go for this arrangement!

My children all do after school clubs. I do occasionally get to pick them up and they get excited if I do. It's also nice to get to see the other parents and chat and arrange play dates (it's not essential- you can do this over the phone - it's just sometimes nicer to put a face to the name)

I mean I can't!

I manage to pick up ds 2 times a week. I think it's worth it as as well as seeing him coming out as pp said, I also get to talk to the other parents and have got to know a couple now. It's very handy for things like ds getting invited to parties as other parents are aware of him through me and just simple things like I now know some people I can ask for pick ups etc in emergencies.

From my perspective.
I tied myself in knots when dds 1 and 2 were little. This enabled me to pick up twice a week. I worked longer hours 3 days to make up.
They are young adults now and have no memory of this at all. They do fondly remember the childminder 😂

From my experience the novelty doesn’t wear off for a very long time if at all. I don’t work but I speak as I see from parents of children, who are picked up once a week. They loved it in the beginning. You can do a fun activity or probably chill in the beginning as your ds will be tired in reception. As he gets older, you may find an after school activity he will like to do outside of school. If you can get the end day off once a week, I’d take it. Better to regret not doing it than losing out on a few pounds.

Oops that last sentence was a load of bollocks. Chronically ill drivel going on here.....

I would! I was a deputy head
( recently resigned) and never got to do pick up or drop off. It was hard to work out who my little boy had made friends with without seeing them in the playground etc. It’s good getting to know other parents

I did pick up once a week for the last 6 years. The last two/three years were pointless exercises, spending too much time just waiting, lots of parents moved to other areas of the playground to pick up the younger siblings first and then just run to get the older so no real time to chat anymore.

I am so glad now that DD is in Y6 and able to walk home on her own where DH is (always working from home).

DD was more interested in knowing if I have a snack with me than seeing me. We also were encouraged to chat with the teacher before school unless we had a specific appointment for after school.

We had more issues that DH and I sometimes couldn't attend assemblies or other parent events than worries about pick up

I pick up once a week. It's nice and enable you to meet some parents.

It would be nice to meet the other parents, but many people can't do pickups/drop offs and you're lucky to have all the school holidays with your dc which most people also don't get.

If it won't disrupt your lessons then do it but if it means your students don't have a teacher for that lesson once a week, then that's a bit off to be honest.

Just seen that you wont have a lesson at that time, so if it were me, I'd do it. If you won't miss the money and it won't cause you problems, then I'd do it.

I have worked full time but flexibly through my son's primary school education, and have been able to pick him up once or twice a week. I think this makes a real difference - it allows me to speak to his teacher, get to know other parents in his class, invite a friend for a playdate etc. It has helped me get involved in the life of the school, which I have quite a bit. His dad does the same. I have just asked my son (now year 6), and he says it has made a really big difference, in a school with many parents who can pick up their kids a lot, not always being the one who has to go off with a child carer. From my experience, I think it's worth making significant effort for this. Get there in good time and get maximum value from your one day by chatting to as many people as possible!